Karen Franklin, Ph.D.



         I-650: RESEARCH PROPOSAL DESIGN

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I-650 Course Overview Instructional Objectives Student Evaluation
Cultural Issues   Required Readings

COURSE OVERVIEW

During this two-semester course, Psy.D. students will develop their dissertation proposals. The focus will be on developing a structure and time management skills in order to complete one's dissertation in a timely manner. Students will be encouraged to work as a team, presenting their ideas to each other for discussion and feedback. By the end of the second semester, students should have completed the Literature Review and Methods chapters of their dissertations. Students should be interested in topics pertaining to forensic psychology, violence/aggression, and/or issues of gender, masculinity, or sexuality. Students must contact the instructor before enrolling in the class to discuss whether their proposed topic(s) are consistent with the course.

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVE

To select a research topic.
To conduct a critical review of the literature relevant to one's topic and write the Literature Review chapter, including the study's research questions.
To select and develop an appropriate research method and write the Methods chapter.
To select a dissertation committee.
To plan for and/or complete the dissertation defense.

EVALUATING STUDENT LEARNING
Students will be evaluated based on: (1) attendance at required meetings,
(2) adherence to a rigorous timeline for completion of assignments, and (3) quality of written work. Specific requirements include the following:

Semester One:

Attendance at group and individual meetings

Oral presentations of research topic

Completion of Literature Review Log (2+ articles/week)

Short Writing Assignments (6)

Literature Review chapter outline

Semester Two:
Attendance at group and individual meetings
Oral presentations
Completion of Literature Review Log (4+ articles/week)
Completion of Literature Review (including research questions)
Completion of Methods chapter

CLASS COMPONENT ON CULTURAL AND ETHNIC ISSUES
The field of psychology has a long history of bias, in large part because its research has largely focused on middle-class, college-track, heterosexual white Americans. Students in this course will be required to seriously consider issues of cultural inclusivity and relevance in the development and execution of their research projects. Such issues occur at all steps of the process, including topic selection and design, participant selection, analysis and reporting of results, and so on. Diversity issues will be a regular part of class discussions.

REQUIRED READINGS

Texts:

American Psychological Association (1994). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, 4th Edition. Washington, DC: Author.

Cone, J. D. & Foster, S. L. (1993). Dissertations and theses from start to finish. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

CSPP Psy.D. Research Manual

Articles:

Bem, D. (1995). Writing a review article for Psychological Bulletin. Psychological Bulletin, 118 (2): 172-177.

Hyman, R. (1995). How to critique a published article. Psychological Bulletin 118 (2): 178-182.

NOTE: Other articles to be announced. Because of the individualized nature of this course, students will have significant required reading related to their own research projects.

NOTE: The complete syllabus for this course is available from Alliant University/CSPP, Alameda Campus.

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P.O. Box 1084, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Telephone and fax: (510) 232-1920

California License #PSY 16570
Washington License #PY 2305

Contact information: query at karenfranklin.com